Posted by Dale Phelps on August 07, 1999 at 22:46:59:
In Reply to: Karl Ziess Tuba posted by Emmett Miller on August 07, 1999 at 01:18:45:
the "Master Modelle" Ziess
I owned for about 10 years
was marked on the mouthpipe
Made in
Czecko
slovokia
horns marked like this were made by Cerveny prior to 1967,
before the soviets overthrew the czech republic. The tuba
I had was big, about an .890 bore and a rather full bottom bow
and bell throat. As a big "plus-size" tuba it's sound spoiled me,
the big full support it provided in orchestra and wind ensembles was special.
Ask around ... there is something about a breadth of sound that certain
big tubas provide that is special when it's there and very elusive ("rare"?)
Some of the listers here think Ziess-stencilled tubas "worth" is relatively inexpensive,
dollars-wise, apparently a Ziess will show up now and then for sale for less than the cost of a good keg of beer, I hope if you are considering purchasing a Ziess
that you buy it from one of these fellows. I feel though that if the horn plays well
and needs little in the way of mechanical attention it's well worth really good money.
I sold mine a year ago for 2200 (after asking 3K & being chided by a collegiate
tubist on this list for gouging) and have missed it since, given another chance
I'd likely shell out MORE to get that particular horn back.